Tenth International Conference on Sport & Society

Abstract

Within Sport for Development (SFD) research literature, and despite an increasing focus on SFD theoretical models, program implementation, and critical analyses, little attention has been paid to community engagement strategies during and ahead of programming. Community engagement strategies are particularly important to understand because they directly correlate to youth participation, provide an understanding of the way in which SFD organizations conceptualize the roles of and the relationship between sport and development, and have been a sincerely under-appreciated component of SFD to this point. My research investigates the community engagement strategies of MLSE Launchpad. The intersection of North American domestic sport-for-development initiatives and swelling corporate involvement in sports initiatives can be seen in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) Launchpad, a 42,000 square-foot facility recently built in one of downtown Toronto’s poorest neighborhoods. This research focuses on the progression of Launchpad’s community engagement practices, from their inaugural conceptualization to community implementation. The research involves extensive interviews with managers, coordinators, and grassroots recruitment staff, as well as observations at dozens of recruitment/engagement events. I will present my preliminary findings, as well as how these may translate to best-practices in community engagement by domestic Sport for Development programs and facilities focused on youth in North America. The discussion will also extend to broader understandings of community engagement strategies used by recreational and physical activity centers wishing to better engage with marginalized populations.